Movement, Freedom, and Ties that Bind: Women Migrant Workers and Remittances

The number of women migrant workers around the world, have generally increased over the years. Globalization has, certainly, played a role in this regard and has also increased or further entrenched unequal economic power relations between men and women in the world. Women's economic emancipation is therefore threatened, especially when women have to send remittances back home in order to contribute to sustainable livelihoods back home. Furthermore, receiving families are at risk of living under continual dependency on remittances. Therefore, remittances although somewhat beneficial to families, are not a guaranteed developmental answer to families; and remittances could also deter economic growth and mobility of migrant women workers.